BY JERRY SOIFER
CORRESPONDENT
Whatever ladder that is put in front of Ernie Marez, he climbs it.
After graduating from Chaffey College in 1982, Marez started working at an Alpha Beta supermarket in Corona. He rose to the position of assistant manager. Then, positions including Marez’s were eliminated. Not a problem for Marez.
He went to work for the Corona-Norco Unified School District in the maintenance department, following his father Nick’s footsteps. Eighteen years later, he wears a tie to work as a supervisor.
“He likes new challenges,” said Ernie’s wife, Linda. “It wasn’t hard for him at all to change careers.”
Sixteen years ago, Marez started a girls fastpitch softball team known as The Rebels. A rival coach told him the team would fold within six months. The Rebels now play at an elite level, the 18-under division gold division in travel softball.
Marez and Linda live in Corona. They’ve been married 16 years. In 2000, her father Ray Angulo passed away. Ernie vowed to keep his name alive by starting a men’s fastpitch softball team and a tournament in Ray Angulo’s memory.
Corona resident Ernie Marez has played fastpitch softball since he graduated from Corona High School in 1980. He has helped revive the sport in the Corona area and will hold a Memorial tournament to honor his father-in-law Raymond Anuglo on Aug. 27-28 at Butterfield Park in Corona.
“He’s a very dedicated and loyal man,” said Linda of her husband.
Ernie and his team, also known as The Rebels, will host The Ray Angulo Memorial Tournament, involving 11 teams, Saturday and Sunday at Butterfield Park in Corona. Ernie, 49, still plays catcher and first and second base. He works out regularly in an effort to prevent injuries as he grows older.
“I love the sport,” Marez said. “It’s competitive. It’s challenging. I’m able to play with great individuals who love the sport. There are guys who are older than I am. They have their sons and grandsons come around and play.”
Marez has helped revive men’s fastpitch in Western Riverside County. Men’s fastpitch leagues had disappeared from Corona and Norco recreation departments. The Rebels play in a four-team league in Corona. Riverside has a modified fastpitch league.
The Ray Angulo Tournament brings back a tradition that had died in the 1990s with the end of Memorial Day and Labor Day weekend tournaments at Corona City Park.
The difficulty of finding games caused Marez to take his men’s team to Indian reservations such as Soboba, Pala and Pechanga for tournaments. Marez took the Rebels to the Pala reservation last weekend.
Rebels pitcher Robert Ward said Marez has picked up the sport in the Corona area since Ray Angulo died and Angulo’s brother, Angel, and Jim “Chayo” Rodriguez who were team managers retired. Ward said Marez maintains excellent morale on the team. Ward said Marez has excellent contacts on the Indian reservations to get the Rebels into tournaments.
Men’s fastpitch lapsed in large part because many of the young men who played the game turned their attention to coaching their daughters in softball and sons in baseball. Marez said he has some young fathers on his team who find ways to divide their time between coaching and playing.
Second baseman Chris Smith, 38, has played seven years for the Rebels. He said Marez has taught him how to adapt his hitting from baseball to fastpitch softball.
“I’ve learned a lot from him,” said Smith. “He’s taught me to be a better human being…to be a better teammate.”
Click here to continue reading.The Ray Angulo MEMORIAL Tournament
WHEN: 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday
WHERE: Butterfield Park, 1886 Butterfield Dr., Corona
INFORMATION: 951-313-1568HOW TO HELP: Refreshments are available for purchase with proceeds used to buy gifts for children with special needs.
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